WO2022031170A2

WO2022031170A2 - Device and method for growing mushrooms

Info

Publication number: WO2022031170A2
Application number: PCT/NL2021/050493
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jacobus Alexander Jozef Lemmen; Marcus Gerardus Maria Van Doremaele
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2020-08-04
Filing date: 2021-08-04
Publication date: 2022-02-10
Anticipated expiration: 2023-02-04
Also published as: WO2022031170A3

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for growing mushrooms, comprising a first shelving, provided with several longitudinally extending and superimposed beds, each adapted to carry a layer of compost, a second shelving, longitudinally arranged in line with the first shelving, comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending and superposed beds, each adapted to carry a layer of compost, a bridge between a first bed in the first shelving and at least a second bed in the second shelving, for moving compost from the first bed to the at least second bed via the bridge, a device, such as a winch, for moving compost with a pulling net from the first to the second shelving, wherein the beds of at least the second shelving are mutually movable between at least: a first position, wherein a second bed supported above a first bed at least partially impedes the accessibility of the first bed in a direction perpendicular to the plane in which the first bed extends, and, a second position in which at least a larger part of the first bed is free approachable from a direction perpendicular to the plane in which the first bed extends than in the first position, and / or wherein, the beds of at least the second shelving are tillable about a longitudinal axis.

Description

Device and method for growing mushrooms

The present invention relates to a device and method for growing mushrooms. More in particular, the invention relates to a system for growing mushrooms in a commercial set-up, wherein beds normally have an average length of 10 to 100 meters, a width of 0,5 to 2 meters.

At industrial scales, mushrooms are traditionally grown at indoor locations, often called growing rooms, wherein shelvings are placed that support beds for holding compost and casing soil, on which the mushrooms are grown. The compost and casing soil are placed on pulling nets, that allow to fill and empty the bed with compost and casing soil easily. Usually, this is done after every two or three flushes of mushrooms, since the compost has lost its fertility and nutrition then.

In certain configurations, for reasons of efficient use of floor surface, beds are placed at a mutual distance above each other in the shelving. Normally, the beds are placed 0,4 to 1 ,4 meters above each other. That is, seen from bottom to bottom or top to top of two adjacent beds. In other words, the pitch between the beds in a height direction. Once mushrooms are ready, harvest of the mushrooms takes place, manually by harvesters, standing next to the beds at various height levels and delivering the mushrooms to harvesting conveyors once they are cut. From there on they are further processed, either manually or in an automated way.

It takes several weeks to cultivate the mushrooms until they are ready to be harvested. During that time, specific climate and light conditions are required, and little interaction by personnel is required. For that reason, the cells can be kept small, only exceeding the size of the shelvings as little as required.

When the mushrooms are ready for harvesting, harvesters need to access the shelvings. Several improvements for or relating to the harvesting process have been proposed by the applicant of the present application, as disclosed in European patent applications EP3578037, EP3581022, EP3607818 and EP3673726, which are incorporated by reference. Although the shelvings disclosed in these applications are suitable for the entire mushroom growing process, it is not necessary to have the possibility of tilting available throughout the growing process.

It is therefore a goal of the present invention to propose a device or system and a method for growing mushrooms that enables easy harvesting without requiring tilting shelves capacity throughout the growing process of the mushrooms.

The invention thereto proposes a device for growing mushrooms, comprising a first shelving, provided with several longitudinally extending and superimposed beds, each adapted to carry a layer of compost, and a second shelving, longitudinally arranged in line with the first shelving, comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending and superposed beds, each adapted to carry a layer of compost, a bridge between a first bed in the first shelving and a second bed in the second shelving, for moving compost from the first bed to the second bed via the bridge, and a device, such as a winch, for moving compost with a pulling net from the first to the second shelving wherein the beds of at least the second shelving are mutually movable between at least a first position, wherein a second bed supported above a first bed at least partially impedes the accessibility of the first bed in a direction perpendicular to the plane in which the first bed extends and a second position in which at least a larger part of the first bed is free approachable from a direction perpendicular to the plane in which the first bed extends than in the first position, and I or wherein the beds of at least the second shelving are tiltable about a longitudinal axis.

By providing a bridge for transferring compost from the first shelving to the second shelving, only the second shelving needs to comprise beds with a first and a second position and I or being tiltable. This sets less strict requirements to the first shelving, which may be a regular shelving with fixed beds for compost. In general, the present application also relates to a first shelving with fixed beds and a second shelving according to European patent applications EP3578037, EP3581022, EP3607818 and EP3673726.

The beds in the first and the second shelving preferably are at a same height level from ground. That enables the bridge to extend in a horizontal plane. Since both the first and the second shelving may have beds above each other, and preferably all at mutually corresponding heights, the bridge may have an adjustable height, or be configured to have support platforms at several heights, to allow simultaneous transfer of compost from a first to a second shelving.

In an embodiment, the second shelving has two beds at substantially the same height level that extend longitudinally, side by side in a width direction. Such configuration is for instance disclosed in EP3578037, EP3581022, EP3607818 and EP3673726.

In general, it is beneficial when the head end at the facing sides of beds of the first and second shelving provide a passage for compost on a pulling net and wherein the head ends are in particular not limited by parts, such as uprights, of the shelving. The configuration as disclosed in EP3607818 may therefore be preferred, so that the shelving comprises at least one portal, the portal comprising at least two essentially vertical stands, connected by at least one beam that extends from a first stand to the second stand.

Preferably, a combined width of two beds at the same height in the second shelving is at least equal to the width of one or more beds at a corresponding height in the first shelving. The first shelving may have one or more beds at the same height.

For those embodiments wherein the first and the second shelving have different numbers of shelvings, a splitting device for splitting a layer of compost in a width direction, in particular during the movement of the compost from the first to the second shelving, may be present. The splitting device may comprise a knife arranged between the first and the second shelving. The splitting device may be part of the bridge. Said bridge between a first bed in the first shelving and a second bed in the second shelving may preferably be formed by a transfer bridge, in particular a (re)movable transfer bridge. This transfer bridge may comprise one or more conveyors that serve as an aid when transferring the compost from the first to the second shelving.

In general, when a shelving has multiple beds at the same height level, and in particular when the beds are adjacent tiltable beds, it is beneficial to cut the compost and casing soil if present before, during or even after placement in the shelving.

For this purpose, the invention also relates to a method for cutting a layer of compost before or during placement in a shelving, irrespective of it is transferred from a first shelving or directly from a filling machine, comprising the steps of:

- Filling a shelving with compost and/or casing soil, in particular on or with the aid of a pulling net;

- Cutting the layer of compost and/or casing soil such that a cut in the length direction of the shelving is obtained.

The step of cutting may be performed before filling the shelving, that is on a filling machine or during the shelving, in particular at or before the head end of the shelving to be filled, or at the head end.

The shelving may be provided with cutting means at the head end, which may be static cutting means such as a knife, or rotating cutting means such as a cutting blade. The cutting means, both static or rotating may be movable with respect to the shelving too, in particular be suspended on the shelving and movable in its length direction, in order to cut the compost when it is already in the shelving.

This step may be repeated after some time, since the compost tends to grow together again.

The invention also relates to a shelving provided with cutting means, in particular a rotating cutting blade, and more in particular a rotating cutting blade suspended movably in the length direction of the shelving for cutting the compost in the shelving in the length direction of the shelving. The cut may in particular be made where the adjacent beds touch each other, so that both parts of the cut layer correspond with the area of one bed.

Especially when the first shelving as a different number of beds at a certain level than the second shelving, a take-over device for taking over compost from a first pulling net on a second pulling net and / or third pulling net may be applied. The device according to the invention may further comprise a third shelving, provided with several longitudinally extending and superimposed beds, each adapted to carry a layer of compost, the third shelving longitudinally arranged in line with the second shelving, at a side remote from the first shelving. Different shelvings may be placed in different cells, each cell with its own climate control.

The invention also relates to a method for operating a mushroom farm, comprising: providing an apparatus as described above, providing compost in at least one bed in the first shelving, growing mushrooms on the at least one bed in the first shelving during a first period of time, moving the compost with the mushrooms from the at least one bed in the first shelving to at least a first bed in the second shelving, the at least first bed in the second shelving being in the first position, moving the at least first bed from the second shelving from a first to a second position, and harvesting mushrooms from the at least first bed in the second shelving.

Compost may be divided in a width direction during the movement of the compost with the mushrooms from the at least one bed in the first shelving to at least a first bed in the second shelving, in particular by cutting.

The method may also comprise the step of alternately filling a bed from the second shelving from at least one bed from the first shelving and from a bed from the third shelving with compost, and after harvesting mushrooms from the second shelving remove the compost from the second shelving.

The invention will now be elucidated into more detail with reference to the following figures, wherein:

- Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a device according to the invention; and

- Figure 2 shows a side view of the same embodiment of the device according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows a device 1 for growing mushrooms, comprising a first shelving 2, provided with two longitudinally extending and superimposed beds 3, 4, each adapted to carry a layer of compost, a second shelving 5, longitudinally arranged in line with the first shelving, comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending and superposed beds 5,7 and 8,9, at substantially the same height level that extend longitudinally, side by side in a width direction each adapted to carry a layer of compost (not shown), a bridge 10 between a first bed 3 in the first shelving and second beds 6 and 8 in the second shelving 3, for moving compost from the first bed to the second beds 6 and 8 via the bridge 10. The device is provided with a winch 24 (visible in figure 2), for moving compost with a pulling net from the first to the second shelving; wherein the beds of the second shelving are tiltable 11 , 12, 13, 14 about a longitudinal axis 15, 16, 17, 18, and therewith mutually movable between at least a first position, wherein a second bed 7 supported above a first bed 6 at least partially impedes the accessibility of the first bed 6 in a direction perpendicular to the plane in which the first bed 6 extends and a second position in which at least a larger part of the first bed 6 is free approachable from a direction perpendicular to the plane in which the first bed 6 extends than in the first position. The shelvings are placed in different cells A and B (walls of the cells not shown) and the movable bridge is placed in a corridor outside the cells. The cells are provided with doors or the like to provide access to the head ends of the shelvings. A combined width of two beds at the same height in the second shelving is equal to the width of two beds at a corresponding height in the first shelving. The bridge 10 comprises a splitting device 19, formed by a knife, for splitting a layer of compost in a width direction, in particular during the movement of the compost from the first to the second shelving. The bridge 10 may have two levels, as shown in figure 2. Alternatively, the height of the transfer surface formed by the conveyor belt 22 may be adjustable.

Figure 2 shows the same device 1 , in a schematic side view. Same numbers indicate same parts. In this view compost 20, 21 is visible, which is being transferred from a bed 3 in the first shelving to beds 6 and 8 in the second shelving. The bridge comprises or forms a take-over device formed for taking over compost from a first pulling net 25 on a second pulling net and I or third pulling net 26. The pulling nets are moved by a winch (visible: winch 24 for pulling net 25), and the compost is transferred over the bridge by the conveyor belt 22 of 23 of the bridge. The belt may be driven, either by a drive, or by the compost pulled by the winch. The initial location of pulling net 25 is drawn as an example here. It is also thinkable that it is positioned underneath the bridge, as indicated with number 27 as an alternative. The bridge is shown with two levels in this figure. Alternative embodiments with a single level that is adjustable in height also fall within the scope of the invention. The splitting device 19 may in some embodiments be placed in between the bridge and the first or second shelving. All examples given are for explanatory reasons only and do not limit the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

8 Claims

1. Device for growing mushrooms, comprising:

- A first shelving, provided with several longitudinally extending and superimposed beds, each adapted to carry a layer of compost,

- a second shelving, longitudinally arranged in line with the first shelving, comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending and superposed beds, each adapted to carry a layer of compost,

- A bridge between a first bed in the first shelving and at least a second bed in the second shelving, for moving compost from the first bed to the at least second bed via the bridge;

- A device, such as a winch, for moving compost with a pulling net from the first to the second shelving; wherein

- the beds of at least the second shelving are mutually movable between at least:

- a first position, wherein a second bed supported above a first bed at least partially impedes the accessibility of the first bed in a direction perpendicular to the plane in which the first bed extends; and

- a second position in which at least a larger part of the first bed is free approachable from a direction perpendicular to the plane in which the first bed extends than in the first position, and I or wherein

- the beds of at least the second shelving are tiltable about a longitudinal axis.

2. Device according to claim 1 , wherein the second shelving has two beds of substantially the same height level that extend longitudinally, side by side in a width direction.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the head end at the facing sides of beds of the first and second shelving provide a passage for compost on a pulling net and wherein the head ends are in particular not limited by parts, such as uprights, of the shelving. 9

4. Device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the shelving comprises at least one portal, the portal comprising at least two essentially vertical stands, connected by at least one beam that extends from a first stand to the second stand.

5. Device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a combined width of two beds at the same height in the second shelving is at least equal to the width of one or more beds at a corresponding height in the first shelving.

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a splitting device for splitting a layer of compost in a width direction, in particular during the movement of the compost from the first to the second shelving.

7. Device according to claim 6, wherein the splitting device comprises a knife arranged between the first and the second shelving.

8. Device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the bridge between a first bed in the first shelving and a second bed in the second shelving comprises a transfer bridge, in particular a (re)movable transfer bridge.

9. Device according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a take-over device for taking over compost from a first pulling net on a second pulling net and I or third pulling net.

10. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, comprising a third shelving, provided with several longitudinally extending and superimposed beds, each adapted to carry a layer of compost, the third shelving longitudinally arranged in line with the second shelving, at a side remote from the first shelving.

11. Device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein different shelvings are placed in different cells, each cell with its own climate control.

12. Method for operating a mushroom farm, comprising:

- Providing an apparatus according to any of the preceding claims;

- Providing compost in at least one bed in the first shelving; 10

- Growing mushrooms on the at least one bed in the first shelving during a first period of time;

- Moving the compost with the mushrooms from the at least one bed in the first shelving to at least a first bed in the second shelving, the at least first bed in the second shelving being in the first position;

- Moving the at least first bed from the second shelving from a first to a second position;

- Harvesting mushrooms from the at least first bed in the second shelving.

13. Method according to claim 12, comprising of dividing the compost in a width direction during the movement of the compost with the mushrooms from the at least one bed in the first shelving to at least a first bed in the second shelving, in particular by cutting.

14. Method according to claim 12 and claim 10, comprising alternately filling a bed from the second shelving from at least one bed from the first shelving and from a bed from the third shelving with compost, and after harvesting mushrooms from the second shelving remove the compost from the second shelving.